Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2013
512. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if, under motorised transport grant guidelines, March 2009, there is provision for a parent to apply for the grant in respect of a dependant who is under seventeen years of age, being so severely disabled that they are impeded from using public transport in order to access health services, appointments and day to day travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14753/13]
View answer513. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the services and supports that exist in respect of disabled persons aged under seventeen years who have been deemed ineligible for the motorised transport grant, taking into consideration that the persons meet criteria for primary medical certificate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14754/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together.
While a Government Decision of 26th February, 2013, ended the Motorised Transport Grant Scheme, applications received by the Health Service Executive (HSE) prior to that date will be processed and if found qualified after assessment, the grant will be paid. The Motorised Transport Grant is a means-tested HSE payment for people with disabilities who are 17 years or older and who need to buy a car in order to retain employment. There is no provision under the guidelines for Motorised Transport Grant for the circumstances outlined by the Deputy.
The Revenue Commissioners operate a Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme, whereby a family member of a disabled passenger can qualify for tax relief linked to the purchase of vehicles, provided he/she is living with and is responsible for the transport of the disabled person in question; has acquired the vehicle for that purpose and the disabled passenger is the holder of a Primary Medical Certificate. Applications for Primary Medical Certificates are processed by the Health Service Executive, through local health offices.
The Government is very conscious of the needs of people with a disability who require transport supports from the State and is also conscious of the position of the Ombudsman that the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant schemes are illegal in the context of the Equal Status Acts. Following detailed consideration of issues involved with Cabinet colleagues, the Government decided on 26th February that it is no longer possible to allow the two schemes to continue as they presently operate and to devise an alternative solution for meeting people's needs.
A special review group, which is independently chaired, has been established to seek an alternative method to provide for the priority transport needs of people with a disability in a manner that does not run counter to the Equal Status Acts. Following the initial phase of the group's work, which will concentrate on issues around Mobility Allowance and the Motorised Transport Grant, a key concentration of the group will be to look at opportunities for the enhancement of the transport options provided to the relevant persons in need. As part of the review, the Health Service Executive (HSE) will examine the circumstances of all those currently benefiting from the schemes to ensure the identified solutions will encompass their priority mobility needs. In addition, the Minister for Health has instructed the HSE to contact each individual in receipt of the payments to notify them of this decision.
In advance of the establishment of the Project Group, Department of Health officials met with representatives of the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies, the Disability Federation of Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair Association at my request. In addition, membership of the Project Group is drawn from both the statutory and non-statutory sectors. The work of the Project Group is being supported by the National Disability Authority and includes representatives from the Irish Wheelchair Association, the Disability Federation of Ireland, the Centre for Independent Living, an independent service user and advocate for people with disabilities and a retired County Council Manager with relevant experience. Both Minister Reilly and myself have instructed the Project Group to seek solutions across the whole of Government, so that alongside representatives from the Department of Health and the HSE, membership also includes representatives from Pobal and from the Departments of Transport, Tourism & Sport, Environment, Community and Local Government, Social Protection and Finance.
The Project Group has already met three times and their next meeting is scheduled for 16th April. The Government decision includes a requirement that the results of the review will be presented to the Government before any final decisions are made on future arrangements. The funding involved in the two schemes (€10.6 million) remains committed to meeting the priority transport needs of people with a disability.
